Wholesome Wisdom For Feeding Finicky Doggos With Tummy Troubles (20 Helpful Comments)

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 11, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

As our loving puppers get older, sometimes they can become picky eaters! Some dogs don't have this problem, especially ones that are highly food-motivated. Others, however, as they lose their sense of smell and gain a few more aches and pains (like the rest of us), can become finicky with food. What to do when your dog just won't eat their normal food, but you know they need to eat? Well, this post has all the answers!

This wholesome Reddit thread gives sage advice from doggo owners from all over the internet on how they were able to prepare food for their doggos with tummy troubles. A lot of bone broth, and lots of pureed foods! Sounds gross to us, but it's basically what babies and old people eat, so it makes sense! Scroll down to see all of the helpful advice below and we hope your puppers have a fancy feast tonight!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    Font - My dog is getting old and it's really hard get her to eat. Any advice?
    via u/idyemyeyebrowsblack_
  • 02
    Nose
    via u/idyemyeyebrowsblack_

    This old girl, she looks like a million bucks! Too bad she won't eat her food, she needs nutrients to keep up her beauty regimen. Get ready for boiled and mashed everything because it's easy to eat and tasty.

  • 03
    Font - halfadash6 3 days ago Have you talked to your vet? Beef and rice are okay short term but aren't complete nutritionally. You can look into more homemade foods, blend them, and try warming them to entice her to eat. Cold food won't smell as strong so warming it might help spark her appetite.
    via u/halfadash6

    Warming up the food is a good tip! As dogs lose their sense of smell, food can become less appetizing. Warm foods have a stronger smell, so it can make it more appealing for them to eat it. 

  • 04
    Font - . Ananda Priestess Love 2 days ago My GSD is 14 and my vet knows that she gets a combo of chicken or egg, rice, powdered pumpkin, Omega 3 supplements and yogurt along with occasional veggies. She says it's fine since my sweet senior doesn't have much time anyway.
    via u/AnandaPriestessLove
  • 05
    Font - merlinshairyballs · 2 days ago Honestly if she's not eating at her age give her whatever tf she wants. Nutrition is no longer the goal sadly. I have one of these. He's 14.5, gastric issues, super picky, i literally have kibble, raw, lightly cooked, canned, and dehydrated food available for him to eat and i give him whatever he seems interested in.
    via u/merlinshairyb*lls
  • 06
    Font - mayfleur 3 days ago I like pureed pumpkin because it's good for them and they can lap it up if they have dental issues. Just make sure it's actual pureed pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling! There's an organic brand called Farmer's Market Foods that has zero sodium.
    via u/mayfleur
  • 07
    Font - Altruistic-Text3481 2 days ago Mashed sweet potatoes always worked for my dogs. Plain canned pumpkin (not always available but I buy extra around thanksgiving for my dog.). I don't buy "dog food canned pumpkin" at Pet Smart. Ridiculously expensive. Libby's canned. pumpkin doesn't have salt or sugar added. Also, plain mashed potatoes and I purée some Costco chicken in a blender. And if you put the Costco in your fridge, you get solidified chicken jellified broth underneath the chicken. I a
    via u/Altruistic-Text3481
  • 08
    Font - There's liver which my dog can't resist. Try rice too. I always make extra rice for my dog with added cooked frozen peas and carrots. I buy a Costco chicken weekly just for my dog. ($4.99 a chicken.). Compare that to one can of chicken dog food at PetSmart.
    via u/Altruistic-Text3481
  • 09
    Font - Aromatic_Volume_8801. 2 days ago The $4.99 rotisserie Costco chicken is not only an amazing value, my dog and two cats will do anything for it, it works so good for picky/sick days or I throw some on her kibble.
    via u/Aromatic_Volume_8801
  • 10
    Font - KittyMetroPunk. 2 days ago Pumpkin puree, sweet potato, chicken & rice. Gastro friendly senior diet dog food may also help. You may also wanna check in with your vet. Not eating usually means stomach issues, esp in a dog this old. My last senior (she passed last year) wouldn't eat when her stomach was hurting. It got to the point she couldn't eat anything without throwing up or diarrhea. It's trial & error mostly.
    via u/KittyMetroPunk
  • 11
    Font - whats_your_vector 2 days ago We had another thread that was similar recently, and recommendations included: Bone broth (make sure there no onions, garlic or other spices - I understand you can also get it in a powder) Baby food (beef, chicken, turkey) Sprinkled parmigian cheese on top of regular food Warming food also can help, as can softening dry food with bone broth or water. Your pup is adorable! I hope she finds something that makes her and her tummy happy!
    via u/whats_your_vector
  • 12
    Font - weirdozarks 2 days ago Salmon. I buy a cheap pack of frozen salmon from the fish case at Walmart to bake for my baby. I usually crumble it over rice. He scarfs it down.
    via u/weirdozarks
  • 13
    Font - kidfantastic 2 days ago My old man turned 17 this year and has become incredibly fussy. He'll love eating one thing on Monday, but if you give it to him again on Tuesday he wants nothing to do with it.
    via u/kidfantastic
  • 14
    Font - I ended up feeding him 2-3 different options each day and that worked for a bit. But now, if any of them are touching each other, he won't touch anything. So I bought meal prep containers with compartments and that works well. Variety is key, so whatever I buy I split it up and freeze 2/3 of it in several ziplock bags. It might be worth a shot with your old girl. I bend the rules a bit these days and give him a little bit of 'unhealthy' stuff now and then. At this stage I don't see any ha
    via u/kidfantastic
  • 15
    Human body - Betty-Bookster 2 days ago Have you tried canned cat food. My 14 year old dog would kill to eat cat food
    via u/Betty-Bookster
  • 16
    Font - Silly_Cone_In_Plants 2 days ago My poodle is a very picky eater. I find that sprinkling a small amount of grated parmesan cheese gets her interested. Sometimes she just licks the cheese off but most of the time once she gets started she eats it all.
    via u/Silly_Cone_In_Plants
  • 17
    Font - 1imejasan6 2 days ago OK, I know this is crazy (or maybe I am the one who is crazy) but I feed my 15 year old female German Shepherd mix by hand. My wife shakes her head when she sees me doing this, but three years ago my dog saved me from an attack by a large dog that escaped its yard. She fought bravely and lost an upper canine tooth in the fight. I won't have her for much longer, so I spoil her. Her favorite is Nulo's canned beef and veggie mix.
    via u/1imejasan6
  • 18
    Font - 2 days ago I use dehydrated beef liver sprinkles for my old man when he starts getting fussy. It's just beef liver treats that have been dehydrated and then were pulverized into a powder. I get it from a local pet shop. Pumpkin, plain Greek yogurt, sodium free broths, or other dehydrated meat treats like sardines are also good for throwing a little on top. If you are going to use any kind of canned fish make sure to use the kind that is packed in water, fish packed in oil could upset thei
    via u/CanadianRawky
  • 19
    Font - mindgame18 2 days ago What's always worked for me is chicken breast, zucchini, squash, and rice. I throw the chicken and veggies in the crockpot...easy to cook and no need for seasoning/sauces so it's super easy. I would always put that on my girls dry food and she gobbled up both. I have since switched to "The Farmers Dog" food delivery service, she's been eating that all up too!
    via u/mindgame18
  • 20
    Font - fillysunray 2 days ago I made a food that was almost good enough for me to eat - boiled carrots, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, peas and chicken. I'd usually reuse the same water for boiling (or you can use a big pot) and then throw it all together, water included, in a bowl and blend it. My dog with a million allergies loved it. Just check with an expert that you're giving her everything she needs and have the ratios right. You can add or subtract ingredients as needed - I sometimes added le
    via u/fillysunray
  • 21
    Human body - Desdalynn 2 days ago There is an appetite stimulant you can get from the vet called Entyce.
    via u/Desdalynn

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

wholesome dogs cute dogs diet heartwarming tummy cute help doggos doggo advice eating reddit thread feeding Reddit trouble animals
Scroll Down For The Next Article